Race for the Calder

[NuxFan09]

Maybe it's just me but it doesn't seem like there's much discussion about Ty Smith. Am I living under a rock or....

 

[Devils090]

Maybe it's just me but it doesn't seem like there's much discussion about Ty Smith. Am I living under a rock or....

playing for the Devils will do that

Smith has been great offensively but his defensive game definitely needs work. Obviously if he continues to put up points he’ll be in the discussion but I doubt he wins.

 

[Tryblot]

looks like Binnington/Hammond 2.0 so far, hope he keeps up the excellent play

Binnington is 58-19-9. Being Binnington 2.0 is a compliment.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

I think this years race is pretty wide open compared to previous years.

Kaprizov leads it for me.

 

[dedutchhockey]

I have Kaprizov slightly ahead but it’s getting harder and harder to justify not having Hoglander at the top as well .

Hoglander is top 3 in rookie scoring despite averaging almost 5 minutes less of ice time as Kaprizov.

but even a bigger factor...

Hoglander is tied for 3rd in Takeaways in the entire NHL.

He also gives it away considerably less overall and less per 60 minutes than anyone in the top 5 for takeaways.

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Nils Hoglander.

 

[Deeds26]

playing for the Devils will do that

Smith has been great offensively but his defensive game definitely needs work. Obviously if he continues to put up points he’ll be in the discussion but I doubt he wins.

I was very surprised to see Smith is leading the rookie scoring when I checked tonight.

Him and Kaprizov are early favourites. Love me some Kaprizov and, as a Canucks fan, Hoglander. I see those two plus Smith being nominated with Kaprizov winning.

 

[Macbanan]

Hoglander is top 3 in rookie scoring despite averaging almost 5 minutes less of ice time as Kaprizov.

True but Höglander has played at least 2 more games than any other rookie. Compared to Kaprizov he has a lower average point per minute average... if you want to be entirely strict about it in this early stage.

 

[dedutchhockey]

True but Höglander has played at least 2 more games than any other rookie. Compared to Kaprizov he has a lower average point per minute average... if you want to be entirely strict about it in this early stage.

season is 20% done. Don’t think you can say early stage anymore.
I fully expect Kaprizov to outscore Hoglander but if Hoglander stays within an arms length points wise then his 2way ability and stats might catapult him ahead of Kaprizov.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Keep an eye on Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Stepped up with all the injuries to Pittsburgh's defense. Four assists in his first five games.

 

[ViD]

In one hand Kaprizov is getting a lot of ice time due to a weak Minnesota offensive roster, on the other hand there’s not much skill to support him

 

[JAK]

I don't think Hoglander will win. But I think he has a great shot at being in the final 3.

It would be historic if the Canucks get a rookie in the top 3 a 4th year in a row

*knocks on wood*

 

[dedutchhockey]

Hoglander is like a dog on a bone.

look how he hounded Jets’s best Dman Josh Morrissey and beat him out of the corner.

 

[The Stig]

I'm 98% sure Höglander won't win, but to have another player in the Calder conversation is a lot of fun.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Kaprizov is probably the closest to a lock a day finalist, otherwise pretty wide open.

Hoglander has been a stud for the Canucks so far, beyond just the scoresheet. He’s relentless and strong on pucks never giving up on plays, and is so good at getting pucks back from dump ins or coming out of contact with the puck.

Lots of hockey left, but have been pretty impressed so far. Regardless of whether he’s a finalist, if he can sustain his level of play over the season I’d be thrilled.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Ty Smith for Calder. if he keeps this up. how can he NOT win? how much does a Dman have to score to keep up with a forward thats always in a role to score?

 

[IndustryLeech]

Byram is here to stay for the rest of the season. He's already in a top 4 role, and Bednar clearly trusts him. Don't count him out. Still 48 games left for the Avs.

Staying with the club is almost a given with Johnson possibly being out for a while.

 

[NYRKing]

Kaprizov will likely win it but Ty Smith is in the lead imo.

 

[Will Hunting]

Keep an eye on Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Stepped up with all the injuries to Pittsburgh's defense. Four assists in his first five games.

Shouldn´t be in the discussion yet. But he´s been fantastic for the Penguins. After 13 minutes of TOI in first games he played over 26 minutes the last night for the Pens. 3 beautiful primary assists, +3, completely dominant offensively and defensively in whole game. He beat the Rangers almost singlehandidly. Pens played that game with only 4 defensemen after Letang´s injury (Ceci and Ruhwedel being two of them, I don´t even count Yannick Weber). And he stepped up and dominated the game.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

My pick at the moment is K'Andre Miller. So good.

 

[dedutchhockey]

My pick at the moment is K'Andre Miller. So good.

he’s going to need to score more than 4 pts in 8 games especially the way Ty Smith as a Dman is scoring.

I don’t doubt Miller has been good overall but these awards are always production based.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

he’s going to need to score more than 4 pts in 8 games especially the way Ty Smith as a Dman is scoring.

I don’t doubt Miller has been good overall but these awards are always production based.

True. I don't think he will for that reason but he has been excellent. Very poised.

 

[Chimpradamus]

Höglander's performance is much more than his points. His game off the puck has been excellent. He's hounding defensemen and is great on the boards, despite his size. His gap control is really good. He skates really well and knows where to skate. That's what has impressed more than his points.

I'm just waiting for his first Zorro goal, or as it's called in the NA, the Michigan. He's really good at launching it very quickly in one movement.

 

[dedutchhockey]

Höglander's performance is much more than his points. His game off the puck has been excellent. He's hounding defensemen and is great on the boards, despite his size. His gap control is really good. He skates really well and knows where to skate. That's what has impressed more than his points.

I'm just waiting for his first Zorro goal, or as it's called in the NA, the Michigan. He's really good at launching it very quickly in one movement.

He said in an interview last night that he isn’t afraid to do the Michigan, he just needs to get used to the smaller rink size in NHL. Don’t forget there’s more room behind the net in Europe.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Our centers, our coach and our insanely idiotic power play is going cost Kaprizov the trophy. His talent is incredible but there's only so much he can fight upstream against.